Stamp collection register



Oct. 29, 1963 R. HEWKO STAMP COLLECTION REGISTER Filed March 28, 1961 Roman hbwko 34 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent M 3,108,734 STAB E COLLECTION REGISTER Roman Hewko, 635 N. 22nd St, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Mar. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 98,833 4 Claims. (Cl. 22944) The present invention relates to a device for storage of a plurality of sheets of material so that such sheets may be readily viewed and has particular application to the storage of individual sheets of paper, preferably still; paper, upon which is mounted a plurality of stamps by any suitable means such as are normally employed by philatelists or others interested in mounting specimens similar to stamps on a sheet of material so that such specimens may be easily minutely scrutinized in a most expeditious manner.

Generally, stamp collections are mounted in bound volumes of blank sheets upon which may be mounted the desired stamps. Another arrangement conventionally employed is the provision of loose leaf binders having opena'ole rings which extend through apertures formed along one edge of the stamp mounting sheets. However, both arrangements are somewhat unsuccessful in that they do not provide a fiat orientation of the sheets when the binders are opened and further are objectionable since it is rather difiicult to remove a loose leaf from the rings of the loose leaf binder and, of course, impossible to remove the sheets from the bound volume. Removal of the sheets or replacement thereof is desirable at times in order to either minutely examine the stamps or in order to replace the sheet with another and further, it is desirable that the sheets lay flat since they are more easily handled and retained when in this condition. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a stamp collection register in the form of a receptacle or container having two substantially identical compartments which, when disposed in overlapped relation, completely enclosed the peripheral edges of a plurality of sheets for maintaining them in a straight and neat condition and also precluding the entry of any substantial amount of light and further retaining the sheets in immediately accessible position when the register is opened somewhat in the nature 'of opening a book by releasing snap fasteners which retain the components of the regis ter in overlapped relation.

The present invention also enables a new concept of mounting stamps to be practiced. The stamps may be retained on the lightweight cardboard or stiff paper sheets by suitable hinge structures or may be inserted intopockets formed by transverse members on the cardboard sheet. The manner of mounting the stamps and the arrangement of the stamps on the cardboard sheet are immaterial to the present invention but it is pointed out that the cardboard sheets are completely imperfo-rate and are not connected to each other in any way except by virtue of them being aligned or registered with each other by being placed in one of the compartments formed by the present invention when in open condition. When using the device of the present invention, it is opened somewhat in the nature of a book and as each sheet is reviewed, it is placed in the left hand compartment with the stamps facing downwardly somewhat in the nature of turning of the pages in a book. However, in this particular construction, the sheets may be picked up and removed for easier reviewing thereof. For example, the sheets may be transported to an area having better light or may be brought closer to the eye or may be inspected with a magnifying glass or the like. Then after all of the sheets have been placed in the left hand compartment, the right hand compartment may be brought into overlapping relation thereto somewhat in the nature of the Patented Oct. 29, 1963 closing of a book. Thus, with the present invention there is provided a stamp collection register which will automatically register the sheets in proper relation to each other when placed in either of the compartments so that the compartments may be brought into registry with each other regardless of which compartment is moved.

' Further, the structure of the present invention incorporates a novel end structure which has overlapping portions and abutting portions all of which coact to preclude the entrance of light and to a certain extent preclude the entrance of air into the interior of the register thereby preventing deterioration of the stamps :from this cause. The register may have any suitable printed indicia on the exterior surface thereof for purposes of identifying the content thereof and the device lends itself to easy storage either in a stacked relation or when set on end such as on a shelf or the like thus enabling the stamp collection to be more easily stored in a compact manner.

A very important feature of the present invention is its simplicity of construction, ease of use and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the stamp collection register of the present invention illustrating the device in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the stamp collection register in open condition illustrating the position of the mounting sheets in the right hand compartment with several of the sheets also being disposed in the left hand compartment;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the details of construction of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken sub stantially upon a plane passing along section line 44- of FIGURE 1 illustrating further structural details of the invention and illustrating in dotted lines the manner of opening the register; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the inclined abutting edges of the end wall portions of the compartments.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the stamp collection register of the present invention which includes two compartments when opened including a right hand compartment gen erally designated by the numeral 12 and a left hand compartment generally designated by the numeral 14 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the collection register is in closed condition, it has a continuous front wall 16, av

continuous rear wall 18, continuous end Walls 22 and 24 and continuous side walls 26 and 28. The device is substantially in the [form of a parallelepiped when in closed condition and may be stacked in superimposed relation with other similar registers or may be disposed on edge somewhat in the nature of a book disposed on a shelf. Suitable indicia '30 may be placed on the front or top wall 16 designating the particular name of the article together with indicia 32 for designating the owner and other pertinent information concerning the material disposed within the register. Such indicia may also be provided on the side wall or edge 26 which corresponds to the spine of a book whereby such indicia will be visible when the device is either stacked or disposed in vertical position on a shelf.

aware-4 I As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the front Wall 16 is provided with a fiap 34 attached thereto by a flexible hinge portion 36. The fiap 34 is adapted to overlie the side wall or side edge 28 which forms part of compartment 12 and is provided with female snap fasteners 38 for engagement with male snap fasteners 40 on the side wall or edge 28 thus detachably connecting the flap 24 in overlying relation to the exterior surface of the wall or edge 28.

The rear wall 18 is provided with upstanding partial fianges 4-2 and 44 which extend for a portion of the length of the end edges of the back wall 18 and terminate in inclined edges 46 which incline upwardly from the back wall 18 and towards the side edge or wall 28.

The end edges or walls 22 and 24 each extend throughout the width of the front wall 16 and each includes a longitudinal recess along a portion of the length of the inner surface thereof. The recesses are designated by numerals 48 and 56 and such recesses terminate in inclined ledges or shoulders 52 which are generally parallel to and in abutting engagement with the inclined edges 46 of the partial walls 42 and 44 when the register is in closed position. The relationship of the inclined surfaces 46 and 52 is illustrated specifically in FIGURES 4 and and this type of construction enables substantially an air and light impervious seal.

The portion of the inner surface of the front wall 16 which receives the edges of the partial walls 44 is indented as at 54 for receiving such edges and retaining them in sealed relation. Also, the edge of the front wall 16 adjacent the flap 34 is provided with a longitudinal recess or indentation 56 receiving the top edge of the side wall or edge 28' also maintaining the sealed relation.

The longitudinal edge of the back wall 18 which receives an upstanding side wall or flange 58 rigid with the front wall or top wall 16 is also provided with a longitudinal recess or groove 60 receiving the free edge of the flange or wall 58. The portion of the back wall extending from the inclined edges of the partial walls 44 and 42 to the inner edge thereof are recessed or indented as at 62 for receiving the edges of the walls 22 and 24 which extend from the flange 58 to the inclined edge 52 of the recesses 48 and 50 respectively. Also, the end edge of wall 26 is connected to the respective front and rear walls by flexible hinges 64 and 66 all of which cooperate to enable the device to be folded into closed position.

When the device is folded, it forms a complete enclosure for a plurality of relatively stiff paper sheets or lightweight cardboard sheets 68 having a plurality of stamps 79 mounted thereon in any suitable manner. The sheets are completely independent of each other and are imperforate and are of a size substantially the same as the area defined by the inner surface of the side wall or flange 28, the inner surfaces of partial flanges 42 and 44 and the edge of the longitudinal recess 60 inwardly of the flange 58 when in closed position. Also, the area defined by the inner surface of the flange 58, the walls 22 and 24 and the inner surface of the wall 28 when in closed position thus retaining the sheets in aligned position and automatically registering the sheets with each other.

When the device is to be employed, it is placed on a supporting surface or held in a suitable manner so that the snap fasteners 38 may be disengaged from the snap fasteners 40 and the top wall 16 or the compartment 14 folded upwardly and to the left as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The sheets 68 may then be removed individually, inspected, inverted and placed in compartment 14. When the sheets are in this position, they normally will be placed between the walls -22 and 24 and pushed inwardly against the flange or wall 58. Thus, when all of the sheets 68 have been disposed in compartment '14, compartment '12 may then be folded up and over into overlying relation to compartment 14 with the partial walls 42 and 44- being received in the recesses 42 and 50 and the wall or edge 28 being engaged with the recess 56 after which the snap fastener elements 38 may be engaged with the snap fastener elements 40 thus closing the register. This enables easy access to the sheets of material and enables easy inspection of the stamps carried thereby.

The device may be constructed of any suitable material but preferably employs materials conventionally employed in book-bindings in which the various panels are substantially rigid and covered with a cloth, leather or plastic binding which serves as the flexible hinges somewhat in the nature of a bookbinding. 1

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stamp collection register comprising a first compartment, and a second compartment, means hingedly attaching the compartments for pivotal movement from a first position, wherein both compartments are horizontal and coplanar so as to allow easy access thereto for stacking and retrieving the contents thereof, to a second position, wherein said compartments are in overlying telescopic relation to each other so as to exclude substantially all light and air from the contents thereof, detachable means interconnecting said compartments at an edge remote from the hinge means, each compartment including a partial upstanding peripheral Wall for receiving a plurality of individual sheets therein whereby the sheets will be automatically registered with each other when placed in either of the compartments and disposed against the partial peripheral wall, the partial peripheral wall on one compartment including a side wall, and two partial end walls extending from the side Wall, each partial end wall terminating in an inclined inner edge at a point approximately equidistant between the edges of said compartment, the partial peripheral wall on the other compartment including a side wall, and an end wall connected to each end of the side wall and extending throughout the width of the second compartment, each of said complete end walls having a recess therein receiving the partial end walls of the first compartment, said recess being located on the inwardly facing side of the end wall and terminating in an inclined shoulder for registry with the inclined ends of the partial end walls on the first compartment thereby presenting smooth unbroken exterior surfaces when said compartments are in overlying telescopic relation to each other.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the compartments in overlying relation includes a closure flap on the second compartment for engagement with the side wall on the first compartment, and coacting snap fastener elements on said flap and said side wall on the first compartment for detachably retaining the compartments in overlapping relation.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the surfaces of the compartments which engage the free edges of the partial walls being recessed to form a seal peripherally of the device.

4. A stamp collection register comprising a first compartment and a second compartment telescoping therein,

said compartments each having similar full length side walls along one side thereof, an elongated strip of a width substantially equal to the width of the side walls, hinge means connecting one edge of said strip to the Walled side of the first compartment and the other edge to the unwalled side of the second compartment whereby said compartments may assume a first position wherein both com partments are horizontal, co-planar, and spaced from each other by the width of the strip, and a second position wherein said compartments are telescoped with the strip orientated against the side wall of the first compartment,

said second compartment including an end Wall extending from each end of its side Wall and terminating in an inclined inner edge at a point approximately equal distance between the walled and unwalled sides of said second compartment, said first compartment including an end wall extending from each end of its side Wall and terminating at the opposite side of said first compartment, each first compartment end wall having a recess on the inwardly facing side thereof of a size so as to receive the second compartment end Wall when said compartments are telescoped, said first compartment further including elongated grooves extending along the bottom of the recesses and along the unwalled edge for the reception of the outer edges of the walls of the second compartment in sealed relation, and said second compartment further including elongated grooves extending about the unwalled edges for the reception of the outer edges of the first compartment side wall and the inner portion of the unrecessed portion of the first compartment end Wall, whereby a complete sealing of the compartments to each other is effected about the entire periphery thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,174 Whiting May 31, 1881 930,113 Adams Aug. 3,1909

1,315,593 Binder Sept. 9, 1919 1,895,070 Czerwen Jan. 24, 1933 2,320,006 Moore May 25, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 908,848 France Oct. 29, 1945 

1. A STAMP COLLECTION REGISTER COMPRISING A FIRST COMPARTMENT, AND A SECOND COMPARTMENT, MEANS HINGEDLY ATTACHING THE COMPARTMENTS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSTION, WHEREIN BOTH COMPARTMENTS ARE HORIZONTAL AND COPLANAR SO AS TO ALLOW EASY ACCESS THERETO FOR STACKING AND RETRIEVING THE CONTENTS THEREOF, TO A SECOND POSITION, WHEREIN SAID COMPARTMENTS ARE IN OVERLYING TELESCOPIC RELATION TO EACH OTHER SO AS TO EXCLUDE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL LIGHT AND AIR FROM THE CONTENTS THEREOF, DETACHABLE MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID COMPARTMENTS AT AN EDGE REMOTE FROM THE HINGE MEANS, EACH COMPARTMENT INCLUDING A PARTIAL UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL FOR RECEIVING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SHEETS THEREIN WHEREBY THE SHEETS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED WITH EACH OTHER WHEN PLACED IN EITHER OF THE COMPARTMENTS AND DISPOSED AGAINST THE PARTIAL PERIPHERAL WALL, THE PARTIAL PERIPHERAL WALL ON ONE COMPARTMENT INCLUDING A SIDE WALL, AND TWO PARTIAL END WALLS EXTENDING FROM THE SIDE WALL, EACH PARTIAL END WALL TEMINATING IN AN INCLINED INNER EDGE AT A POINT APPROXIMATELY EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN THE EDGES OF SAID COMPARTMENT, THE PARTIAL PERIPHERAL WALL ON THE OTHER COMPARTMENT INCLUDING A SIDE WALL, AND AN END WALL CONNECTED TO EACH END OF THE SIDE WALL AND EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE WIDTH OF THE SECOND COMPARTMENT, EACH OF SAID COMPLETE END WALLS HAVING A RECESS THEREIN RECEIVING THE PARTIAL END WALLS OF THE FIRST COMPARTMENT, SAID RECESS BEING LOCATED ON THE INWARDLY FACING SIDE OF THE END WALL AND TERMINATING IN AN INCLINED SHOULDER FOR REGISTRY WITH THE INCLINED ENDS OF THE PARTIAL END WALLS ON THE FIRST COMPARTMENT THEREBY PRESENTING SMOOTH UNBROKEN EXTERIOR SURFACES WHEN SAID COMPARTMENTS ARE IN OVERLYING TELESCOPIC RELATION TO EACH OTHER. 